I remember buying my first backpacking backpack. I walked into an outdoor store and chatted with a salesman about options. When I asked about lightweight packs, he dismissed them, telling me they would strip away any comfort and weren’t worth it. I left with a backpack that on its own weighed close to five pounds. …

Woodstock, Vermont looks like a scene out of an old-timey children’s book. Its pint-sized downtown is lined with B&Bs, local shops, and Federal and Greek-revival houses. An afternoon walk takes you by stately homes on each side of the Ottauquechee river, giving you a view of its (no less than) three covered bridges. Blanketed in …

Just in time for the beach and early summer showers, Live Out There sent us Mountain Hardwear’s Urbanite II Jacket. If you haven’t heard of it, Live Out There is an online outdoors store and community that blends guides, stories, gear, and environmental activism. Besides finding the latest (vetted) gear for whatever you’re doing, you’ll …

If you too have been bike commuting with a backpack, it’s time, my sweaty friends – shed the turtle shell. Lift with your legs, not your back. Embrace the panniers. The Classic 2.o Garment Pannier from Two Wheel Gear is sturdy and roomy – 55 liters of room – and has a universal attachment to fit …

Last week I was invited to a boot camp class. This sounds normal enough , but it was a special bootcamp. We wouldn’t just be putting ourselves through the paces; we’d be putting some high performance gear to the test, too. If you don’t know them, Polartec is a leader in fabric technology. A lot of …

Valentine’s Day: what’s it all about? Is it about this guy (sadly beheaded)? Is it about this? Or perhaps, this? Who can say. All we know is there are a bunch of readers out there in TV land with outdoorsy sigs, partners, partners-in-crime, best friends, work friends, loves-from-afar, loves-from-closeup, roommates, and really important nemeses that you may want to …

I know this is last minute, but if you’re still trolling for gift inspirations like I am, this may relieve some stress…especially if you’ve got some foodies in your life. And even if you don’t, everyone’s got to eat. Here is our expert list of gifts for foodies. Molecule R- Molecular Gastronomy Kit Know someone with …

I’ll be honest with you: I have never owned a pair of hiking boots before. I’m more of the twee museum-exploring type, and though over the years I’ve acquired quite a bit of “gear” for anytime a new hobby piqued my interest—dry-rotted tiny barre ball, I’m so sorry, you never stood a chance—I had yet …

OK, in most places, it’s not quite winter yet, but we’ve got to be prepared. Some of us are a little paranoid of the cold. Not saying it’s me, but I just happen to know there are those people out there, dreading. Over the past few months we’ve amassed the best of the best winter gear …

Let’s start November off strong. Enter to win the carry-all every traveler, mover, and shaker should have. Bartaile, the brains behind this bag, is a women-founded company that knows what’s up. Use the box below to throw your name in the proverbial hat. Easy as that! a Rafflecopter giveaway One day all this could be yours.

Annapurna: A Woman’s Place journals the 1978 women’s climb to Annapurna I in the Nepal Himalayas. Annapurna I stands at 8,091 meters (or 26, 545 feet) and is considered the deadliest mountain over 8,000 meters, with 53 fatalities. The introduction discusses past and present challenges for women alpine climbers–not only the general challenges of a massive …

In lieu of a trail mix today, I wanted to share a recent EP release by a Durham, North Carolina band, Hardworker. I was nervous to start listening to something called The Awful Rowing, which I assume is a heavy nod to Anne Sexton‘s posthumously published, death-meditating The Awful Rowing Toward God, because I was having such …